PHOENIX (AP) -- It's going to cost more to attend Maricopa County Community Colleges.

The district's governing board voted Tuesday to raise tuition and fees by 9 percent, or $6 a credit hour, to $71 for the 2008-09 school year.

The last time the board raised tuition rates was two years ago.

Full-time students who take 30 credits a year will pay $2,130 in tuition, or about $180 more.

Some programs charge additional fees, and tuition is higher for students who live outside Maricopa County or outside the state.

The increase puts the district's tuition slightly below this year's national average of $2,361 for community colleges, according to the College Board, which tracks college expenses.

Community colleges serve a higher percentage of low-income students than four-year universities. Maricopa is ranked as the largest community-college system in the nation, with 10 colleges and 220,000 students taking credit courses last school year.

---

Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.